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November 2008 |
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According to the National Beer Wholesalers Association
Over the past few years, the NBWA has witnessed a dramatic increase in the use of e-commerce tools embraced by its distributor members. Beer distributors are using various forms of technology to increase productivity levels and lower costs in the areas of forecasting, delivery, warehousing and payment. Increasingly, distributors are recognizing the key role that technology plays the in the future of the beer industry and the competitive advantage that technology brings into their operation.
Technology allows distributors of any size to enhance their overall ability to compete and provide value-added services to their retailer customers. Distributors that adopt innovative technology tools improve their business practices through the elimination or reduction of inefficiencies within their organizations and increase operational effectiveness. At present, a majority of beer distributors use Fintech's electronic funds transfer (EFT), utilize their supplier's Web sites, take advantage of portable data collection terminals and employ truck/car based portable computers. Others use hand-held scanners with their retail trading partners and have implemented global positioning systems (GPS).
Staying ahead of technology advancements and trends is a challenge and vital for survival in today's competitive marketplace. To remain successful in the 21st century, beer industry professionals must understand the benefits of existing technology tools and options available to them.
Reprinted from NBWA |
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Alcohol a Growing Part of Costco
There's no denying Costco has made huge inroads into the alcohol beverage industry, particularly in wine, in the past decade. In fact, Costco's beverage alcohol sales are expected to reach $2.3 billion this fiscal year, with 50% coming from wine. The average Costco store carries 180 alcohol SKUs, with some as few as 80 and some over 200. Wine averages a whopping 145 SKUs per store.
The retail chain has increased its alcohol sales tremendously by offering more upscale products and extending its SKU count. Most stores don't even carry boxed wine anymore and have limited 1.5 liter selections. This is all according to an article in this month's Market Watch entitled "Taking it to the Top."
Assistant general merchandising manager for wine, spirits and beer, Annette Alvarez-Peters, said the retailer started becoming known for its wines around the same time she began taking suggestions from regional Costco managers who wanted to promote local brands. The company is also missing a uniform list of wines, spirits or beers - regional managers make their own selections based on local demand.
Strategies such as these have helped Costco become a leader in wine retail. Annette said that beverage alcohol "creates a lot of consumer excitement" even though it's one of the smaller departments in the store.
Similarly, Costco president and CEO Jim Sinegal said wine is very important in upgrading the retailer's image.
Sticking to more upscale brands that appeal to Costco's affluent consumers has boosted the chain, which has so far resisted the $2 wine trend that is seen in other retailers. In fact, its cheapest wine is a Chateau St. Michelle at $5.99. On the high end, Costco sold 15 packs of six 750 ml bottles of 2001 first growth Bordeaux last year for $1,399.99.
WHAT'S HOT. Domestic Chardonnays, Cabernets and Pinot Noirs are Costco's most popular wine offerings although wines from Bordeaux and New Zealand are gaining. Best selling wines under $12 include: Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Woodbridge Chardonnay and Clos du Bois Chardonnay. Wines priced above $12 include: La Crema Chardonnay, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, KJ Grand Reserve Chardonnay and Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc.
Spirits make up 25% of Costco's beverage alcohol and average 38 SKUs per chain. Whiskey, vodka and tequila are the fastest growing categories. Spirits pricing starts at $10.49.
Beer brings in 25% of Costco's beverage alcohol sales, and the average store sells 15 SKUs.
PRIVATE LABEL. The chain is reportedly developing a private label Tequila and craft beer to join its Kirkland Signatures wines, which originated in 2003 with an Australian Shiraz. Since then, Costco has launched a French vodka.
As far as internet wine sales go, Costco offers about 80 alcohol SKUs online and is only permitted to ship to Washington, California, Oregon, Illinois, Texas and New Mexico.
"We could definitely improve our Web sales, but the laws are difficult," said Annette. "We don't want to jeopardize our warehouse licenses for the Internet."
Reprinted from Wine & Spirits Daily |
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Fintech has fun with Halloween
From left to right.
Back Row:
Bill Petro (Database Administrator) - Brandon Redding (Account Executive) - Andrew Sanderson (Account Executive) - Brooke Cote (Manager of Client Services) - Pete Carola (Account Executive) - Cindy Morgan (Sales Administration Director)
Front Row:
Linda Ritch (Support Specialist) - Sophia DeJesus (Support Specialist) - Alexis Hilton (Support Specialist) - Tanya Youmans (Team Lead, Customer Support) - Indira Gonsalves (Customer Activation Specialist) - Annessa Bailey (Customer Facilitation Specialist) - Laura Beard (Marketing Assistant) - James Greer (Production Support Analyst)
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Click here to enter the contest!
Enter our quarterly contest to win a gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers such as Target, Costco, Kroger, Exxon, Applebees, Outback and others!
First Prize (1 winner)
$500 gift certificate
Second Prize (1 winner)
$100 gift certificate
Third Prize (5 winners)
$50 gift certificate
Congratulations Winners!
Please join us in congratulating the winners of our quarterly Fintech Focus newsletter contest! (August 2008):
First Prize - $500 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers
Bruce Oimoen - Kabrick Distributing
Second Prize - $100 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers
Craig Heller - United Distributors, Inc.
Third Prize - $50 gift certificate to one of a selection of Fintech retailers
Robert Popoli - LaBelle Rodeo Bar & Grill
Elaine Blandford - Bryant Distributing
Scott Cassin - Jangle Road, Inc.
Donna Siano - OSI Restaurant Partners
John Howard - Culinaire International
Here's what our contest winners wanted to say about Fintech
Fintech has provided us an error free and streamlined process for our collections from our participating customers.
- Kabrick Distributing
Fintech improves our cash flow without the worry of dealing with the float.
- United Distributors, Inc.
The Fintech system was easy to set up and is incredibly easy to use. The simplicity and accuracy is fantastic!
- Jangle Road, Inc.
Everyone we work with at Fintech is GREAT! Very friendly and professional, they always take care of our questions and requests quickly and efficiently. I feel like they are a part of our accounting team!
Since we began using Fintech services two years ago, our operations managers have really appreciated the time saved during beverage deliveries and our accounting department enjoys the accuracy and convenience of Fintech.net. Overall, Fintech provides excellent service and has been a great fit with our business.
- Culinaire International |
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Distributors
3 Tears Wine Co.
Aleksey's Beverages
Andrews Distributing of N. TX
Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co.
Atomic Distributing Co.
Bacchus Wine Company
Bodegas De Mendoza
Capitol Beverage Company
Capitol Distributors
Capote Distributors, LLC
Cave Creek Wines
Click Distributing East
CoHo Distributing-Kent
CoHo Distributing-Oregon
CoHo Distributing-Seattle
Continental Wines
Corley Dist. Company
Enotria Wine Imports, LLC
Fattoria L'Ottavo Imports
Finley Distributing Co.
Graystone Wine Imports
Harris Incorporated of Henderson
Highland Distributing Co.
Horizon Wine & Spirits
Hy-vee Council Bluffs
Intermountain Beverage
International Bonded Export Service Corp.
Inwood Estates Vineyards
Iron Horse Brewery
Jo's Globe Distributing Co.
L A Dick Imports, LLC
Lee Edwards Distributing, LLC
Liquid Brands
Mach 21 / Wortman
McCannDistributing
Metro Wine Distribution Co.
Miller of Amarillo
Mission Valley Distribution
Mojo's Liquor Store
Mystic Vine
New Age Wine
Nice Legs, LLC
Northwest Cellars
O. S. Winery, LLC
Oregon Wine Country Distribution
Pitcher of Nectar
Premium Brands of NWA
Quinby Beverage
RA Jefferys Distributing of Wilmington
Stellar Wines
The American Beer Company
The Post Package Liquor Store
The Vermont Wine Merchants Co.
The Wine Frog
Tony's Party Shops
Valley Distributing Co. of Fairmont
Vin de Terra Imports
Vinum Ventures
Washington Wholesale Liquor Co.
Wine For Everyone
Wise Liquors
Yukon Liquors
Supermarkets
Presidential Market
Other
Borley Hanel Post 3033 VFW
The Pinnacle Center
Vin Associates, LLC
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Concessions
City of Edmond-KickingBird Golf Club
Sun-N-Lake Golf Club
CobbTheaters - CineBistro
The Standard Club
Royal St. Cloud Golf Links
SP Collyville, LLC
Wynnwood Special Events, LLC
Convenience Stores
101 Travel Stop
Bill L. Dover Company
Brighton BP
Creek Smoke Shop
Crosstown Service Center
Crossway Investment
Crouch's Country Boy
Duncan Oil Co. / Big D
Gastrak of Brownsville and Hildalgo
Interstate Convenience Stores of MI
Kris Food
Long Beach Travel Center
Main's Market, LLC
MF Oil Beavercreek
Northern Mini Mart
Petersen Oil & Propane
Randolph Oil Co.
Site 102 Gas Station - Fairfield
Sonora Ozona Oil Company
South Lyon Mobil
Travel Store USA, LLC
Treasure Holdings
Yonker-Fisher Ventures
Hotels
Park Place Hospitality Group
ML Peachtree Group
Cadillac Hotel Holdings Detroit
SHG Hotel SPE.LLC
MB Airport Hotel Partners, LLC
Liquor Store
ABC Discount Liquor
Fullliquor.com., LLC
Angels and Kings
Spartan Spirits
Jamil Brothers
RHW Enterprises
Restaurant/Bar
4th Street Comedy
AAPA Investments
Adobo Grille 110 LLC
Areas Usa Ind, LLC
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Bar Louie-Anaheim
Beef O'Brady's - Arcadia
Bella Vita Restaurante
Bend-Sunriver
Blue Plate Restaurant Co.
Buffalo Wings & Rings-Chesterfield
Burrito Boarder
Calizona Capital
Cardinal Management, LP
CCIN, Inc.
Champps
Chapati
China West LTD
Clairview Holdings
Coach's Restaurant South OKC
Completely Casual
Connemara Management
Contented Cow
Coolidge Fuel
Cutchall Managment Kansas
Cypress Bevco III, LLC
Demos' Restaurants
Deutsches Haus
Devou Park Golf Management
Dolce Sports Bar, LLC
Duke's Beverage Corporation
E. J. Hodgson Enterprises
Ebisu Sushi Grill
Eno's Pizza Tavern
Everette Mall BBQ
F & F Investments
Flying Dog, LLC
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Restaurant/Bar
Furlongs of Louisville
G & F Investments
Gard Management, LLC
Genghis Grill - Duncanville
Grape Expectations
Harry Buffalo
Heartbreaker's Bar & Grill
Heavenly Wings, LTD
Hilton Garden Inn-Detroit
Huckleberry Rock
Indy Restaurant Concepts
Indy Wings
IRC, LP The Penthouse Club
J T Restuarant Group
Joyner Marina, LLC
JTJ Restaurants, LLC
Kaliente
Kitterman Grill & WIngs
KY Best Bar BQ,LLC
Lakeview Mens Club
Legends Bar & Grill
Lombardi Family Concepts
MacClenny B-B-Q
Megala Group
Midnight Gatherings, LLC
Mind Body & Spirits
MJB Entertainment, LLC
Mojo's Wings Burgers & Beer
MRC, LP
Mulberry
Nantahala Mountain Village Inc
Natchez Trace
Nate's Seafood of Allen, LLC
Nuovo Vita, LLC / TASTINGS
OC Midwest LLC
Old Market Ventures, LLC
Orange Park Bar-B-Q
Oven Del Ray Beach
Paggi House
Paul's Restaurant
PDX Grille
Peoria Kilt, LLC
Pita Jungle
Platinum of Illinois
PM Nightlife Lounge
Prime Bar BBQ
Quail Hollow Country Club
R&B 3 LLC
RCC, LP
Red Eye Grill Of Biloxi
Restaurant Development Co.
RFRG Wesley Chapel
Rockin' JA
Rosa Mexicano National Harbor, LLC
Ruby Tuesday - De Moines
Selena's LLC
Shells Grill
Shells of Melbourne
Shells of Sarasota South
Sizzlin in San Antonio / Ruth's Chris Steak House
SNL Vintage Park FCG LP
Southeastern Steele Choppers
Spain Liquidators INC dba Biltmore Tap Room
Stix - Fultondale
Stultz Restaurants
Talegators
Taps Pub, LLC
Taqueria El Zarape
The End Zone
The Peninsula Club
The Swamp Sports Grill
The Wine Shop
Tijuana Flats # 150, LLC
Tijuana Flats # 151, LLC
Tijuana Flats # 152, LLC
Trader Vic's Restaurant
True Bleu Restaurant Group
Wine Exchange Bistro & Wine Bar
Wing West Four, LLC
Wings Ect.
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| 7702 Woodland Center Blvd., Suite 50 | Tampa, FL 33614 |
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